Carbon-capture technology: A commitment to clean energy

Yoshiaki Inayama, Managing Director, Toshiba JSW Power Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Several initiatives like ANTYODYA, SHAKTI, URJA and UDAY have been taken by respective government agencies at centre and state levels, that further the Indian government’s intent of providing ‘24X7 Affordable Clean Power for All’, as envisaged. A world of good has come from these initiatives including – India moving to 26th position in 2017 from 99th in 2015 on World Bank’s Ease of Getting Electricity Index; the amount of coal required to produce per unit of electricity has reduced by 8 per cent over the last 3 years; and transmission capacity saw highest ever increase, amongst other, informs Yoshiaki Inayama, Managing Director, Toshiba JSW Power Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Indian government has successfully implemented various initiatives such as adopting supercritical technology for power generation, bulk tendering of power projects to rapidly augmenting the generation capacity and supporting world renowned power equipment manufacturers to establish their facility in India.

In the interest of providing ‘Power to All’ and at affordable price, the schemes introduced had multiple effects wherein the availability of electricity improved and mix of conventional as well renewable energy supported the intent. However, Inayama says, “The consumption of electricity did not meet the forecast which did impact the planned power generation growth. This has been observed in last three years as the all India Plant Load Factor (PLF) dropped. This slowdown in growth of power had impacted the manufacturing industry.”
He adds, “We do believe that revival of power sector especially the power from coal fired power plants would support the ‘Make in India’ initiative against which several manufacturing units were established in India. We at Toshiba are looking forward to rapid growth of power sector by applying the latest and cleaner technologies so that power for all is achieved in shorter time.”

Carbon-capture technology
Talking about the initiative that will change the game, Inayama said, “MNRE earlier announced its readiness to finance the carbon-capture technology as a part of its clean energy initiative. The readiness for adoption of carbon-capture technology is not just a testimony to India’s commitment to cleaner energy. As a part of the clean energy promise, the superior technologies like Ultra-Super Critical (USC) and Advanced Ultra-Super Critical (A-USC) that have much lower carbon footprint than the conventional thermal power plants will become the new norm.”

Toshiba has been continuously striving to develop technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint by not only reducing the emission levels, but also improve efficiency. The A-USC uses steam at temperatures above 700 C. A two-stage, reheat steam A-USC plant is expected to achieve a 46 per cent plus increase in net thermal efficiency (by HHV standard).

Accelerating towards this initiative for environmental management, Toshiba Group besides laying importance to cleaner coal technologies by applying USC and A-USC is also working to employ its post combustion capture technology that separates, captures, and sequesters CO2 emissions from the flue gas of thermal power plants, which would otherwise be released to the atmosphere. Using chemical absorbents which selectively capture CO2 in the flue gas at a certain condition in the absorber tower, and release it under a different condition in the stripper tower, CO2 is continuously separated from the flue gas of the thermal power plant.

This post combustion capture technology applies not only to coal fired power plants, but also to all other CO2 emitting plants, such as oil fired, gas fired, gas combined cycle, biomass fired plants. Technology can be applied onto new build plants or retrofitted onto existing plants. The portion of CO2 emission to be captured from the power plant is selectable, giving this technology the flexibility to answer to various needs of the Indian market and regulations.

Price discovery methods come to rescue
Briefing about the major changes observed during the past one year as far as improving the health of the industry is concerned Inamaya says, “We noticed that the price discovery methods applied for arriving at power tariff from solar or wind power has helped the solar and wind industries. This could be achieved by providing several incentives, especially in respect of import duties, incentives for domestic manufacturing including lower financing costs/financial benefits like accelerated depreciation. These benefits were desired to encourage the renewable energy sector. This is very good initiative and we support the same.”

Toshiba JSW Power Systems also believes that manufacturing industry involved in conventional energy sector, especially the equipment manufactured for coal fired power plants should also be encouraged in similar manner for improving the affordability of power prices. These incentives should especially be applied for Ultra super critical and Advanced Ultra Super Critical technologies as well for post combustion capture technologies.

TJPS’s performance
Briefing on the company’s performance Inamaya says, “The past year was rather eventful for us at TJPS. We are working on schedule for our first full EPC contract awarded by Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (UPRVUNL), valued at Rs 3,436 crore for 660 MW Harduaganj Ultra-supercritical Thermal Power Project.”

Apart from that, on August 19, 2016, TJPS marked a significant milestone in its endeavour to offer customers state-of-the-art power generations solutions with shipment of its first ‘Made-in-India’ steam turbine generator. The 800-megawatt steam turbine generator (STG) for Unit 2 of the Kudgi Super-Critical Thermal Power Station in Karnataka state was Toshiba’s first large-scale generation system to be manufactured and assembled with locally procured parts and systems, and tested in India.

With this shipment the company has embarked on its local manufacturing – from procurement to testing and shipping, for customers in India and the neighbouring countries. It is also determined to continue to deliver excellent products under its commitment to the Indian government’s ‘Make-in-India’ campaign.

He adds, “After delivering the equipment for Kudgi project of NTPC we have synchronised three units each of 800 MW and out of which one unit has been declared by NTPC on commercial mode. The other two units shall follow the same in due course.”

In addition, TJPS has also completed the initial steaming and synchronisation of first unit of 660 MW for Meja project of Joint venture between NTPC and Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited.

TJPS innovative strategies
With a manufacturing facility in Chennai with an installed capacity of 3,000 MW, TJPS is geared up to contribute to the government’s goal to provide 24×7 electricity for residential, industrial, commercial and agriculture use. “We are determined to continue to manufacture and deliver excellent products under our commitment to ‘Make-in-India and Export-from-India’ initiatives. With the manufacturing and supply of turbines and generators, we will continue to contribute to the growth of industries for the next India,” declares Inamaya.